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Kennedy to replace Lucchino as Red Sox president

8/2/15: Red Sox chief operating officer Sam Kennedy discusses how he is ready to lead the team when Larry Lucchino steps down

By Ian Browne and Alec Shirkey
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MLB.com |

BOSTON -- Larry Lucchino's impactful run as president/CEO of the Red Sox will come to an end following the 2015 season.

In a statement released on Sunday morning, Lucchino said that he would stay with the club in a new role, and that Sam Kennedy, who grew up just a couple of miles from Fenway Park in Brookline, Mass., will be the team's next president.

Porcello to DL; Owens to debut vs. Yankees

2015 MLB.com Top Prospects: Henry Owens misses bats with a combination of stuff and deception and he has a very good feel for pitching

By Alec Shirkey
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MLB.com |

BOSTON -- Rick Porcello's first season with the Red Sox has not gone smoothly. Before the Red Sox's 4-3 loss to the Rays on Sunday, the struggling right-hander suffered another setback as the team placed him on the 15-day disabled list with a right triceps strain.

Porcello's issues, however, are not without a silver lining. Replacing him for Tuesday's scheduled start is left-hander Henry Owens, who will make his Major League debut in the Bronx against the Yankees' lefty-heavy lineup.

Red Sox let sweep get away vs. rival Rays

8/2/15: David Ortiz sends a double off the Green Monster in left field, scoring Xander Bogaerts to give the Red Sox a 3-1 lead

By Bill Chastain and Alex Shirkey
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MLB.com |

BOSTON -- The Rays staged a late-game comeback to avoid a weekend sweep -- and their fourth consecutive loss -- by defeating the Red Sox, 4-3, on Sunday afternoon at Fenway Park.

As Tampa Bay trailed, 3-2, with one out in the eighth, Asdrubal Cabrera's RBI ground-rule double off Junichi Tazawa tied the score. James Loney, who had an RBI double earlier, followed with a single to center to give the Rays the lead.

BOSTON -- While their bullpen has produced its share of shaky performances this season, the Red Sox have been able to use Junichi Tazawa in the eighth inning of tight games with impressive consistency. Lately, however, the right-hander has hit a rough stretch in which even his reliability has come into question.

Such was the case in Sunday's 4-3 loss to the Rays at Fenway Park. Tazawa, working with a one-run advantage in the eighth, gave up a leadoff double to Evan Longoria, an Asdrubal Cabrera ground-rule double and a bloop single by James Loney that lifted Tampa Bay.

Betts' concussion symptoms much improved

7/28/15: Mookie Betts makes a great running grab that he drops falling over the wall, forcing him to leave the game in the 6th inning

By Alec Shirkey
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MLB.com |

BOSTON -- Mookie Betts' tumble into the bullpen on Jose Abreu's wild catch-turned-homer may have wowed fans on the highlight reels last week, but the Boston center fielder's fall on that play also sent him to the seven-day concussion disabled list on Wednesday.

Fortunately for the Red Sox, Betts has shown significant improvement in recent days -- enough that they expect him to travel with them to Detroit next weekend and possibly begin baseball activities as early as Friday.

Lucchino amassed Hall-worthy list of deeds

8/2/15: Larry Lucchino releases a statement regarding his decision to step down as Red Sox president and CEO and his plans for the future

By Richard Justice
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MLB.com |

If the Baseball Hall of Fame is for the men and women who had a lasting, dramatic and positive impact on the sport, Larry Lucchino is a no-brainer.

Take a look around baseball today. Pretty sweet, huh? Whatever happened to those cookie-cutter ballparks anyway? Remember when a trip to one baseball stadium felt a lot like a trip to every other baseball stadium?

Owens to make Major League debut in Bronx

2015 MLB.com Top Prospects: Henry Owens misses bats with a combination of stuff and deception and he has a very good feel for pitching

By Alec Shirkey
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MLB.com |

The Red Sox and Yankees will renew their long-standing rivalry in the Bronx on Tuesday night, and the clash will feature a Boston rookie facing a veteran Bombers lineup on its home turf.

In the absence of right-hander Rick Porcello, who landed on the disabled list Sunday with a triceps strain, left-hander Henry Owens will be called up from Triple-A Pawtucket to make his Major League debut at Yankee Stadium. He is the organization's No. 5 prospect, according to MLB.com.

BOSTON -- Travis Shaw knows the drill by now because he's lived it a few times this season. When the Red Sox have a nagging injury to a corner infielder, he usually gets the call from Triple-A Pawtucket.

Shaw typically doesn't know how long his stay will be, or how he'll be used during it. But if Shaw keeps contributing like he did during a monster Saturday afternoon at Fenway while leading the Red Sox to an 11-7 victory over the Rays, he will soon graduate from the I-95 shuttle between Boston and Pawtucket.

Shaw belts two HRs as Red Sox topple Rays

8/1/15: Travis Shaw goes 4-for-4 and nearly hits for the cycle, scoring five runs and hitting two homers, including the first of his career

By Ian Browne and Bill Chastain
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MLB.com |

BOSTON -- Travis Shaw celebrated his fifth callup this season from Triple-A Pawtucket with a monster day, going 4-for-4 with two homers, a double and five runs scored to lead the Red Sox to an 11-7 victory over the Rays on Saturday at Fenway Park.

Xander Bogaerts notched four hits in a game for the fifth time this season and drove in three. Rusney Castillo added three hits and three RBIs on a day the Red Sox had 16 hits.

Aggressive approach works for Bogaerts

Red Sox shortstop tallies his fifth four-hit game of the season

8/1/15: Xander Bogaerts goes 4-for-5 with three RBIs and a steal in a big day at the plate against the Rays

By Alec Shirkey
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MLB.com |

BOSTON -- All season long, the hits have kept coming for Red Sox shortstop Xander Bogaerts, and they're coming in situations usually reserved for proven veterans.

The lineup came alive again in Saturday's 11-7 win over the Rays at Fenway Park, and Bogaerts supplied a heaping portion of that production by tallying four hits and three RBIs. Two of those runs scored when he clubbed a double off the bullpen wall in right, which capped a four-run outburst in the second inning.

Happy to still be in Boston, Napoli delivers

BOSTON -- Mike Napoli knows perfectly well what the standings look like these days. And he still has no interest in leaving the Red Sox.

The first baseman made it through Friday's non-waiver Trade Deadline with the same team he's been with since 2013, and celebrated by clubbing a go-ahead two-run homer to spur Boston to a 7-5 victory over the Rays.

BOSTON -- With every phone call Red Sox general manager Ben Cherington fielded with teams in recent days, his motive was to improve his club for 2016 and beyond. That quest will largely be tabled until the offseason, as the Red Sox didn't find anything appealing enough to make a splash prior to Friday's non-waiver Trade Deadline.

The only transaction Boston made on Friday was a complementary one -- the acquisition of righty reliever Ryan Cook from the Athletics for a player to be named or cash.

Napoli's go-ahead HR lifts Red Sox over Rays

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Swihart's two-run single 0:45

7/31/15: Blake Swihart hits a soft liner into left field, scoring two runs to give the Red Sox a 3-1 lead in the 1st

By Ian Browne and Bill Chastain
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MLB.com |

BOSTON -- Mike Napoli clocked a go-ahead two-run homer with two outs in the bottom of the seventh that just cleared the Green Monster to lift the Red Sox to a 7-5 victory over the Rays on Friday night at Fenway Park.

Frates, Sox begin Ice Bucket Challenge anew

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Frates relaunches ALS Challenge 0:50

Sox in Site: David Ortiz and the Red Sox participate in the ALS Ice Bucket Challenge in support of Pete Frates and ALS Research

By Alec Shirkey
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MLB.com |

BOSTON -- Since Pete Frates and Pat Quinn were thrust into the international spotlight as the originators of the ALS Ice Bucket Challenge, which went viral on social media last year and raised millions for ALS research, their inspiring stories have been well-chronicled. And as Frates and Quinn officially kick off a relaunch of the wildly successful fundraising campaign this August, the Red Sox took another step with them.

On Friday, the entire Boston clubhouse was on hand at Fenway Park to participate in the Ice Bucket Challenge with Frates and Quinn, who were joined by their families and friends also working to help the cause. When prompted, the players and coaches dumped large buckets of ice water on each other, laughing and yelling in the sweltering afternoon heat.

BOSTON -- By acquiring Ryan Cook at a low cost (a player to be named or cash) from the Oakland Athletics before Friday's non-waiver Trade Deadline, the Red Sox hope they can help the reliever rediscover the form that made him an All-Star in 2012.

The right-hander struggled in a short stint with the A's earlier this season, and has spent most of the year at Triple-A.

Rodriguez shakes off wildness in gutsy effort

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Rodriguez's nice play 1:05

7/31/15: Eduardo Rodriguez recovers on a grounder hit right back to him and gets the out at first

By Alec Shirkey
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MLB.com |

BOSTON -- Exactly one year before Friday night, the Red Sox acquired a left-handed pitching prospect from the Orioles named Eduardo Rodriguez -- a move that, at the time, was somewhat lost in the shuffle of 2014's frenzied roster purge.

In contrast, this year's non-waiver Trade Deadline held little change for the Sox by way of addition or subtraction, with the team instead opting to build off its current foundation of young talent. And that certainly includes Rodriguez, who pitched solidly in a 7-5 win over the Rays at Fenway Park.

Wright's slow pace keeps Chicago off balance

Combination of knuckleball, fastball leaves White Sox guessing

7/30/15: Steven Wright hurls seven innings, allowing two runs on six hits while striking out eight against the White Sox to earn the win

By Quinn Roberts
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MLB.com |

BOSTON -- Entering Thursday night's game at Fenway Park, it was easy to see the disparity in pitching styles between White Sox ace Chris Sale and Red Sox starter Steven Wright. Sale fires 95-mph missiles, while Wright lobs knuckleballs in the mid-70s.

However, it was the steadiness of Wright that came out on top and helped Boston to an 8-2 win over Chicago to avoid a four-game series sweep. The knuckleballer tossed a career-high seven innings, allowing two runs on six hits for the win. He also struck out a career-high eight, one more than Sale.

Wright, offense shut down White Sox

7/30/15: David Ortiz gives the Red Sox a 3-2 lead with a single to right-center field, scoring Xander Bogaerts in the bottom of the 5th

By Ian Browne and Scott Merkin
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MLB.com |

BOSTON -- Tired of getting belted around by the White Sox in their own ballpark, the Red Sox responded by delivering a sixth-inning knockout of ace Chris Sale en route to an 8-2 victory on Thursday night.

The White Sox had won the first three games of the series by an aggregate of 28-14, and jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the top of the first in the finale.

Cuban hits long home run, seeing signs of progress

BOSTON -- Perhaps the price-tag has preceded the player too much. Yes, the Red Sox spent $72.5 million on Rusney Castillo, and he hasn't made a major impact just yet. But it's simply too early to label him a disappointment.

Castillo belted a titanic home run to left-center -- estimated to travel 429 feet by Statcast™ -- in Thursday night's 8-2 victory over the White Sox. The blast served as a reminder of what he is capable.

Ian Browne is a reporter for MLB.com. Read his blog, Brownie Points, follow him on Twitter @IanMBrowne and listen to his podcast. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.

BOSTON -- Daniel Nava started his career with the Red Sox by belting a grand slam on the first pitch he saw in the Major Leagues. His time with the club will likely end in a much more unceremonious way, as the outfielder was designated for assignment on Thursday.

The roster move was necessitated by Boston's need to add some bullpen depth in light of the recent struggles of the rotation. Nava's role had decreased of late. After being activated from the disabled list on July 21, Nava didn't make any starts before Thursday's move.

Ian Browne is a reporter for MLB.com. Read his blog, Brownie Points, follow him on Twitter @IanMBrowne and listen to his podcast. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.

Machi given chance to help Red Sox bullpen

Reliever's success tied to effective use of slider

5/30/15: Jean Machi gets Todd Cunningham to strike out on a foul tip for the Giants' first out of the 8th inning

By Quinn Roberts
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MLB.com |

BOSTON -- Needing another arm for a taxed bullpen, the Red Sox promoted right-hander Jean Machi on Thursday after claiming him off waivers from the Giants on Tuesday.

Machi last pitched on July 17, but he has continued a throwing program and threw a light bullpen before the start of Thursday's game against the White Sox. Red Sox manager John Farrell said Machi would be available during the game.

BOSTON -- For the second night in a row, Red Sox third baseman Pablo Sandoval had to exit during the middle of a game. This time, Sandoval was belted on the left forearm by a pitch from Chris Sale that he actually swung at for strike three.

Sandoval crouched down in obvious pain after making the third out of the fourth inning in Thursday's 8-2 victory over the White Sox, and Josh Rutledge replaced him at third base. Sandoval went for X-rays after leaving the game and sustained only a contusion.

Ian Browne is a reporter for MLB.com. Read his blog, Brownie Points, follow him on Twitter @IanMBrowne and listen to his podcast. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.

Farrell: Sox pitchers 'capable of more'

BOSTON -- In his near three seasons as manager of the Red Sox, there haven't been many occasions when John Farrell seemed as perturbed in a postgame news conference as he was following Wednesday's 9-2 loss to the White Sox.

It wasn't because of one game, but because of the last three -- and the recurring theme. Quite simply, Boston's starting pitchers haven't even been competitive in this series, compiling just 11 innings while giving up 27 hits and 16 earned runs.

Ian Browne is a reporter for MLB.com. Read his blog, Brownie Points, follow him on Twitter @IanMBrowne and listen to his podcast. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.

Porcello struggles vs. streaking White Sox

7/29/15: Mike Napoli launches a solo home run to left field off Jose Quintana in the bottom of the 7th to cut the Red Sox's deficit to 8-2

By Ian Browne and Scott Merkin
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MLB.com |

BOSTON -- For the third straight night, the White Sox used a quick-strike attack as they pushed their winning streak to seven games with a 9-2 victory over the Red Sox on Wednesday at Fenway Park.

Rick Porcello (5-11, 5.81 ERA) was the Boston starter who got rocked early this time, giving up six runs in the first three innings. Chicago starter Jose Quintana meanwhile gave up just two runs over 6 1/3 frames to notch his sixth win.

Ian Browne is a reporter for MLB.com. Read his blog, Brownie Points, follow him on Twitter @IanMBrowne and listen to his podcast. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.

Sandoval exits due to dehydration

7/29/15: Avisail Garcia fields Ryan Hanigan's double, then throws to Carlos Sanchez, who throws home to get Pablo Sandoval out at home

By Alec Shirkey
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MLB.com |

BOSTON -- Wednesday night proved tough all-around for the Red Sox following a 9-2 loss to the White Sox at Fenway Park, but it was especially bumpy for third baseman Pablo Sandoval, who had to leave the game after five innings due to dehydration.

Sandoval was thrown out while trying to score from first base during the third inning. With Boston trailing by six runs, catcher Ryan Hanigan smacked a double that right fielder Avisail Garcia was slow to retrieve, but a lightning-quick relay throw from second baseman Carlos Sanchez caught Sandoval sliding headfirst into home plate.

Johnson, Owens could get opportunities soon

BOSTON -- The struggling Joe Kelly will take his next turn in the Red Sox's rotation on Saturday against the Rays, but manager John Farrell hinted there could be some opportunities in the near future for prospects Brian Johnson and Henry Owens.

Farrell said there could be some reshuffling following Monday's off-day, which leads into a three-game series against the Yankees.

Ian Browne is a reporter for MLB.com. Read his blog, Brownie Points, follow him on Twitter @IanMBrowne and listen to his podcast. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.

Rutledge brings versatility to Red Sox

7/29/15: Josh Rutledge charges forward to field a grounder with his bare hand, then fires a strong throw to first for the out in the 7th

By Alec Shirkey
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MLB.com |

BOSTON -- The Red Sox may already have All-Star utility man Brock Holt on their roster, but on Wednesday night, the club welcomed another player well-accustomed to moving around the diamond.

Josh Rutledge, a 26-year-old infielder acquired from the Angels in Monday's Shane Victorino trade, made his Red Sox debut in a 9-2 loss to the White Sox at Fenway Park. He entered the game in the sixth inning as a replacement for third baseman Pablo Sandoval, who was removed due to dehydration, and went 0-for-2 at the plate.